When family dynasties implode, high-stakes divorces end in bloodshed, and rich decadence turns to death, the old adage that money doesn’t buy happiness is proven true once again. Premiering Thursday, February 21 at 8 p.m. ET/9 p.m. PT on Investigation Discovery, BEHIND MANSION WALLS shares the stories of crime and investigation that unfold behind the veil of wealth, where secret affairs, hidden accounts, and false identities are just the beginning. Across 13 scandalous episodes, host Christopher Mason – and long-time respected chronicler of high society and its duplicitous affairs – shares his unique vantage point and vast “in the know” connections to reveal the secrets lurking within these mansions.BEHIND MANSION WALLS shares stories of murder and mystery on a grand scale, where the victims and suspects range from oil tycoons to real estate moguls, self-made billionaires to heiresses of family dynasties. Vast inheritances, privileged lifestyles, and corporate power hang in the balance of these real-life investigations within the gated communities of the elite. But despite their extreme measures to secure money and power, greed leads them to what they ultimately deserve – a wealth of time behind bars.
Highlights from the first episodes of BEHIND MANSION WALLS include:
BEHIND MANSION WALLS: “Kiss or Kill”
Thurs., Feb. 21 at 8 p.m. ET/9 p.m. PT
Harold Landry made his fortune designing hydraulic cranes on oil rigs in Texas. He had a house in Mexico and offices in Brazil. When he met Lucy Davies on the Internet in 2000, the Louisiana millionaire started a new life with his love in the U.K. Despite a 24-year age difference, they married and had two children. For a few years they led a charmed life, but their fairytale soon turned sour. By 2009, the marriage had crumbled and Landry was intent on his wife getting as little as possible in their divorce settlement. Then on Feb. 1, 2010, during a particularly heated argument, Landry took his hatred one step too far, stabbing Davies 23 times. It didn’t take long for the truth to come out about an old life in Louisiana that Landry had left behind and another violent murder he had already committed.
BEHIND MANSION WALLS: “Hidden Desires”
Thurs., Feb. 28 at 8 p.m. ET/9 p.m. PT
Stefanie Rabinowitz had it all. A great job as a lawyer at a top firm, a beautiful home on Philadelphia’s ritzy Main Line, a loving husband, and a wonderful infant daughter. But that came to a tragic end when she was found dead in her bathtub of accidental drowning in April 1997. Discovered by her husband Craig, friends and family were grief-stricken by the terrible accident. But an autopsy report would uncover that this was not an accident after all, and investigations revealed that her husband was far from devoted.
About Christopher Mason:
A frequent contributor to The New York Times, Christopher Mason has written for the past 15 years on the worlds of art, society, fashion, and design. For The Daily Beast, he wrote “The Baby Monitor Diaries,” based on the journals of Brooke Astor’s staff, which provided harrowing new accounts in the tragic story of the queen of New York’s philanthropic set. Mason also penned The Art of the Steal: Inside the Sotheby’s-Christie’s Auction House Scandal, a critically-acclaimed book about the price-fixing scandal that tarnished the world’s leading auction houses. Mason is also renowned for writing and performing musical tributes and satirical songs at star-studded galas and exclusive private parties of the ultra-rich.